Valve mechanism for fluid-motors.



No. 811,983. PATENTED FEB. e, 1906. J. WILKINSON. VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED-FBB.2,1905.-

2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

m wwwwww4 J BY ATTOR/VE WITNESSES:

PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

2 SHEETS-$11331 2.

I l l I I I I 7 J. WILKINSON. ALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.2.1905.-

Ill! El WITIVEISSES: J2 I irrrian s'rrns" rron.

JAMES WlLltlNSOltl, OF EIRMlNGHAl /I, ALABAMA, AS'SIGNOR TO WILKINSON 'iURBlNE COtLlPANY. A CORPORAllON OFv ALABAMA.

lt'o. erases.

Patented read, 1906.

Application filed February 2, 1905. Serial No. 243,883.

to for iluid pressuremotors, more pztrticularly adapted for use in-turbines and similar rtary motors.

in a pending application i have described and illustrated a valve-operating mechanism i wherein power-inoreasing devices were utilized to transmit motion from a motor or actuator to a reciprocating valve.

It is one object of my present invention to adapt such an operating mechanism for use no in connection with rotary or semirotary valves.- 1 provide stops which arrest the valves travel. when they reach a closed position and constitute fulcrums in connection with which the o crating mechanisms act to a 5 force the valves firmly against their seats.

it is a further object to adapt the operating mechanism to control supply or stage valves for a multistage-turbine, the motor and power-increasing devices being dis osed 0 Within or without the turblne, as may e desired.

it is a further object of my invention to provide a turbine with nozzle-passagds having radially-elongated admission ends and 5 circumferentiallyelongated discharge ends and to adapt my rotary valves to control the supply of motor fluid to these nozzles.

. y invention comprises the details of construction and arrangement of arts hereinaf- 0 ter more particularly describe and claimed,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein are illustrated several con structions capable of operating in accordance with my invention;

5; Figure l is aside view, partiallyin section,

eta turbine, showing a supplyenozzle controlled by a rotary valve which is actuated by powenincreesing devices disposed without the turbine. hig. 2 is a sectional view "go through mgr, Fig. 1. .hi 311's a partial sectional view through :a iaplufagm-partition between wheel a compartments in a multistage-turbine;illustrating the rotary valve in its closed posi tion. ltig. i is a diagrartunatic of a diapln-agm-partition', showing the valveactuating mechanism disposed Within the.

turbine. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through Fig. 5, showing the motor-casing and valve-seat in section and the valve and its actuating mechanism in side elevation. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a sector-gear and lever.

Sim i1 ar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout.

l have illustrated my invention as up lied to an elastic-fiuid turbine, where the ad i antagcs gained by its use in large power units ape greater than in most other motors in view 0 t i to properly control the iiow of motor fluid through its supply and stage nozzles. I do not, however, desire to limit my invention to use in a turbine, as its advantages apply with equal force to any fluid-motor where a rotar valve is now or could be advantageously user.

The turbine shown is of the impactaxialflow ty e comprising any desired number of motor-ldhidsupply nozzles 1, leadingthrough the supply-head 2 and discharging against peripheral buckets 3, carried b a rotor wheel or drum 4., keyed to the turome-shaft.

(Not shown.) There may be as many nozzles as desired; but since they are similar only one and its controlling-valve-will be shown and described. Motorfiuid-pressure is supplied to this nozzle through a port under the control of a rotary valve 6, seated in the head and reduced between its'circular end portions to form two arallel valve-li s '7 and 8 and a rib or shoul er 9. The nozz e is provided with a radially-elongated supply end having two parallel admission edges 10,

which are engaged by the valve-lips 7 and 8 to close the nozzle. The nozzle throughout its intermediate portion it gradually narrowed radially and widened; peripherally of the head until at its dischar e end its width cor: responds with the dept of the buckets 3, while its circumferential length enables it to discharge fluid simultaneously against a This arrangement number of the buckets. is of particular-advantage in connectlonwith rotary valveawhose" motors may be conveniently erred in close pr unmity and 0. large number of small valves required IOC in radial alinement with their respective valves. Above the admission edges the supply-passage is cut away on ea'ch side of the valve opposite to its intermediate reduced portion to permit the free flow of the fluidpressure around the valve and between it and both admission edges of the nozzle when the valve-lips 7 and 8 are out of engagement with the edges, as seen in Fig. 3. The man ner in which these lips overlap the edges 10 will permit a slight travel of the valve after it has closed. The valve is preferably inserted "into a circular opening bored radially into the periphery of the head and intersecting the supply-passage immediately above the admission end of the nozzle-passage. The

valve after being inserted is held in place by a block 11 and operated by a stem 12, having a squared end which passes through the block and enters a squared recess in an end of the valve. This stem continues through an opening in an outer shell 13 for the turbine, being suitably packed at 14 to prevent the escape of pressure which has access to both ends of the valve, and thus practically balances it against end thrust. The stein 12 has a bevel-wheel 15, secured to or formed integral with its outer end and provided with I two oppositelydisposed segmental sets of gear-teeth 16.

When the turbine is subdivided into stages by diaphragm-partitions 17, Fig. 2, the latter will be provided with a peripheral shoulder 18, in which are formed enlarged supply- 3 bowls 19 for the stage-nozzles 20. A rotary stage-valve 21, similar to the supply-valve, but of larger proportions to correspond with the increased area of the stage-nozzles, is disposed radially across this bowl and provided with a rib 9 and lips 7 and 8, which engage the admission edges of the stage-nozzle. To avoid the use of a larger number of valves to control the increased volume of motor fluid as it passes from stage to stage, it is my purpose to utilize the same number of valves or each stage, increasing the capacity of the successive stage valves rather than their number. This can be effected in a manner to supply the fluid-pressure to the whole periphery of the bucket-wheel, when such is required, as in the low-pressure stages, by forming the nozzles, as shownin Fig. 2, with their radially-elongated admission ends of the requisite cross-sectional area, while their elon- 55- gated peripheral discharge ends form a complete annular discharge-orifice for the stage fluid-pressure. Thin division-plates 53 will be utilized in this construction to direct the discharge of the fluid stream against the buckets. These plates may also be used in the supply-nozzles. At one side of the supply-chamber for valve 6 and of the bowl for valve 21 I provide two overhanging shoulders 22, having adjustable set-screws 23 65 screwed downwardly through threaded openings their ends. The rounded ends ,of

these screws enter the path of the rib 9 and by engagement with the same act as stops to arrest the travel of the valve at a point where the lips 7 and 8 close the nozzle. These screw-stops further constitute an adjustable fulcrum for the valve, against which the operating mechanism acts with the leverage effect, hereinafter explained, to force the valve against its seat. The adjustability of the fulcrum enables the leverage on the valve to be varied. The stage-valves may be inserted in the diaphragm in the same manner as the supply-valves 6 are inserted in the head and provided with similar operatingstems 12, having gear-wheels 15. The operating mechanism for these supply and stage valves comprises a frame 24, bolted to the turbine shell or casing and carrying at its outer end a fluid-motor comprising a cylinder 25, having ports 26 at each end of the admission of controller-fluid pressure and a piston Whose rod 27 is adapted to be moved always a full stroke by said controller-pressure. The

rod 27 has a cross-head 28 connected through toggle-links 29, to the outer ends of lever arms30, each of which is preferably formed integral, as shown in Fig. 7, with a bearingsleeve 31, carrying at one end a segmental bevel or sector gear 32, disposed oppositely 5 to its respective lever arm. These two sleeves '31 are mounted upon a stationary axis 33, journaled in standards 34, integral with the frame, and have their segmental gears so disposed as to engage the two sets of gear-teeth on the bevel-wheel 15, through which they are adapted to operate the rotary valves 6 and 21. The segmental gears 32 and the sets of teeth 16 .on the gear-wheel have meshing surfaces calculated to give the valve a travel suflicient to fully open or close it, which, as shown, is about thirty degrees.

The toggle connections between the motor andthe operating-gears for the valve act like a toggle-press to exert pressure when the movement of the valve is opposed, which increases in power as the angle between the toggle-links vanishes. The set-screws 23 are adjusted to engage the rib 9 just as the lips 7 and 8 of the valve move over the admission edges 10 of the nozzle to close it. This takes place when the toggle connections are about in the position shown in Fig. 1, when the motor, through the toggle-press and gears, is capable of exerting the greatest power upon the valve. The manner in which the power of the motor can be multiplied by the lever age devices described is illustrated in its simplest form in Fig. 4. Here a onepound Weight w is suspended from a lever Z, having a fulcrum s and engaging avalve e. The static energy of the weight increases relatively as its distance from the fulcrum exceeds the distance of the valve therefrom. In other words, the length of the lever from '10 to :50

8 being about fifteen times that from o to s, the weight exerts a pressure of fifteen pounds on the valve. The toggle-press, though differing slightly in its action from the device described, since its increased power is obtainedby reducing the length of the lever from o to s, has practically the same efi'ect and not only acts to force the valve with great power against its seat, so that all leakage is prevented, but it also acts to multiply the power of the motor as ap lied to opening the valve, which isunbalianced by the fluid pressure when seated. Further, the

action of the toggle-link connections tends to retard the travel of the valve on the point of. seating, and thus prevents its hammering against the stop-screws.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a preferred mechanism for operating stage-valves, in which the motor and the toggle-press are disposed within the turbine and mounted upon a diaphragm 17. In these figures the valve-motors comprise cylinders 35, formed in shoulders 36, integral with the diaphragm. A head 37 is screwed into the open end of each chamber, through which passes the rod 38 of piston 39. The toggle-linlrs 29 are dis posed parallel with the diaphragm to avoid interference with the bucket-wheel 4 and em gage the lever-arms 30, whose sleeves 3'! are disposed vertically and rotate on a bushing 40, surrounding a journalbolt ll, screwed into threaded opening in the'diaphragm,

Thestage-valve 4E2, similar in construction to the stage-valve 211 is provided at its inner end with an enlarged circular head 43, constituting a bevel-wheel similar to 15, which carries segmental sets of gear-teeth 44, which mesh with the segmental gears 32 on the sleeves31. The valve in this case will be inserted through the inner opening in the shoulder 18 of the diaphragm, in which the nozzle-bowl 19 is formed in the manner described in connection with Fig. 2. To relieve the friction of end thrust of the valve, 1 provide an antiiriction ball-hearing for the outer end of the valve. This bearing is formed in a screw plug 46, inserted inan opening opposite the valve, the inner end of the plug being provided with an undercut annular groove 47, forming part of a raceway for antifriction balls 48. The balls are retainedin the groove by a screw 49, whose flaring head overhangs the ball-race, com pleting the same and preventing the displacement of the balls. It will be obvious that this hearing can be adjusted by screwing the plu 46 to or from the motor, so as toproperly re ieve the pinion journal bolt oi strain. The controller fluid-pressure is supplied to these stage-valve motors through pipes or conduits 50 and 51, which lead through the turbine-casing and enter opposite ends ofthe motor-cylinders. y

In the figures las-t'described I have shown the diaphragm provided with radial strengthenin ,webs 52, leading from its hub to the, shou der 18, between which webs the several valves and. their actuating mechanisms are disposed in radial alinement.

The rotary valves are perfectly balanced when opened, and their motors are fully ca pable of moving them from their unbalanced closed position to open them, without the expenditure of any large amount of energy, by

the use of power-increasing devices, such as illustrated. A controller mechanism such as described in Letters Patent heretofore issued to me may be utilized to move the motoristons to their lull stroke to operate the va ves without intermediate 0 crating positions and, to control the severa valves, so that they successively act to increase or diminish the supply oi fluid-pressure in accordance with the load. or speed.

Other forms of powerincreasing devices may be utilized within the scope ol" my iii-- vention to operate the valves, and the latter may differ as to details oi construction and gear connections, it being the purpose of my resent invention to protect, broadly, means "or forcing a rotary, semiro t ary, or oscillatory valve firmly against its seat by the use oi power-increasing devices which act to move the valve against a fulcrum resistance. It is also my intention to protect, broadly, the valtie-operating meclmnism for any type of motor and in connection with any kind of. power device, such as a lluid or hydraulic inor, cam, or any hind of actuator.

lflaving described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is V 1. in a fluid-motor, a rotary valve, a power device for movinr l valve, and rnotiontransmission me mid valve and actuator which inc 'wer ol the latter in moving said v est an opposing force.

2.'ln a motor, a rotary iiuidpressure valve, a port or passage controlled by said valve, an actuator adapted to move said valve with increasing power, and means to enable said actuator to positively force said valve against its seat to close said port or passage.

, ii. in a motor, a rotary valve for a fluid- CQIl'iflllt, a shoulder on said valve, a stop adapted to engage said shoulder to arrest the travel of said valve after it has assumed a closed position, and power devices to lorce said valve against its stop and-seat.

4. in a motor, a rotary iluid pressure valve controlling a fluid port or passage, an actuator ,cohnected through power-increasing devices to said valve, and means, to stop the travel of said valve when it has closed said port or passa *e, which acts, a lllll, crum, against whie said act'uating devices force said valve tohold itagainst seat,

5. In a motor, a rotary motor-fluid valve, an adjustable stop to arrest the movement of the valve as it assumes its closed position, and valve-operating mechanism which acts against said stop, as a fulcrum, to force said valve against its seat.

6. Ina motor, arotary motor-fluid valve, and a toggle-press for actuating said valve with variable speed and power against resistance and forcing it against its seat.

'7. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a rotary motor-fluid valve, a reciprocatory actuator for said valve, a gear transmission means between said actuator and valve and an adjustable stop for said valve.

8. In a motor, a fluid-passage, arotary valve therefor, a toggle-press, and gear means to transmit motion from said toggle-press to said valve.

9. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a nozzlepassage having a radially-elongated admission end and a peripherally-elongated discharge end which covers a section of aset of buckets mounted upon a rotating element, in combination with a substantially radially disposed rotary valve for controlling the flow of fluid-pressure through said nozzle.

10. In a turbine, 11 nozzle-passage having an entrance which is radially elongated and an intermediate portion which is contracted radially and'gradually elongated peripherally to its discharge end which corresponds substantially in radial width with a set of rotatable buckets, and a rotary valve for controlling the flow of motor fluid through said nozzle.

11. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a rotary motor-fluid valve, and a reciprocating actuator therefor which moves in the direction of the axis of rotation of said valve, said valve and actuator being disposed substantially radially to the axis of rotation of the turbine.

12. In a multistage-turbine, a rotary nozzle-valve, a reciprocating motor for actuating said valve which is disposed in substantial axial alinement with said valve.

- 13. In an elastic-fluid turbine, av rotary valve controlling the flow of motor fluid against a rotatable element, a reciprocating actuator for said valve disposed end to end therewith, and transmission means between said valve and actuator whereby the latters lineal movement is converted into rotary motion and applied to the former to fully open and close the same. v

14. In a turbine, a nozzle-passage, a substantially radially disposed rotary valve therefor which is operated bya gear device at one end thereof, and a fluid-motor for actuating said gear means and controlling the operation of saidvalve. V

15. In a turbine, a nozzle-passage, a substantially radially disposed rotary valve therefor and a va ve-operating mechanism comprising a toothed element which meshes with the rovided with gear-teeth at one end,

toothed end of said valve for rocking the same.

, 16. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a diaphragmpartition, a fluid-conduit between stages leading through said diaphragm, a rotary valve for said conduit having its inner end provided with gear-teeth, and gear means meshing with said valve-gear and driven by a power device disposed within the turbine. 1

17. In a multistage-turbine, a rotary-stage valve, an actuator therefor within the turbine, and a lever connection between said actuator and valve which moves in a plane substantially parallel with that of a diaphragmpartition.

18. In a motor, a fluid-passage, a valve therefor, a power device to operate said valve and toggle means for transmitting motion from said device to said valve which come prise a pair of levers journaled on a stationary axis, toggle-links connecting saidlevers to said power device, and gear means to transmit motion from said levers to said valve.

19. In a turbine divided into wheel-compartments by diaphragms, a fluid-conduit between wheel-compartments, a rotatable valve for said conduit, and an actuator for said valve comprising a cylinder carried by said diaphragm, a piston and its rod which travel substantially radially from the'turbineshaft, one or moretoothed levers pivotally mounted on the diaphragm and connected to said rod, and gear means for rocking said valve which mesh with said toothed lever or levers.

20. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a diaphragm-partition, a rotary valve seated in a shoulder of said diaphra m and controlling a stage-nozzle passage, a uid-motor mounted on said diaphragm and having a radially movable piston-rod, a gear driven by said rod and meshing with a gear connected to said valve, and antifriction means to take up the end thrust of said gear on said valve.

21. In a fluid-motor, a rotary fluid pressure valve, a reciprocating motor movable axially with relation to said valve and connected to one end thereof, and an antifriction thrust-bearing for the other end of said valve.

22. In a fluid-motor, a rotary fluid pressure valve, a reciprocating motor movable axially with relation to said valve and connected to one end thereof, and an adjustable antifriction thrust-bearing for the other end of said valve.

23. In a turbine, a diaphragm, a rotary valve seated therein, a motor for operating said valve connected to one end thereof,

screw-plug inserted in said diaphragm opposite the other end of said valve, a ball-race in said plug, and balls therein which engage said valve end.

5 projects outside of the t eating motor disposed and connected to said s urbine, and a reci rowithout the tur me tom.

25. In an elastic-fluid turbine, a diaphra m-partition dividing the turbine into IO whee -coin' artinents,

leading rad ally from t strengthening webs he center of the diaphragm to or near its n1otorfluid passages; and actuating devices therefor which are mounted on the diaphragm between said webs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Wit- DGSSQS.

W. E. DOUGLAS. A. R. FORSYTH.

periphery, valves for 

